As students consider taking a gap year abroad, this year it seems, volunteering is the thing to do. But what’s to stop it being more than just a fashion trend?

Volunteer organisations and volunteers alike need to be aware of both the benefits and potential pitfalls of their work – making sure that goodwill really does do good.

In this Olympic Year, when 70,000 volunteers have devoted their time to make the London Games a great success, it’s inspiring to see the spirit of “international co-operation” spreading beyond the sporting arena. In spite of the economic downturn, more and more students from the UK choose to take a gap year or short-term volunteering stint abroad. A structured period of volunteering can be a great signal to future employers that you take yourself and your impact on the world seriously.

Sadly, as flagged up in a 2011 report by Demos, the political think-tank, the long-term effects of volunteering on host communities have been ignored by some gap year companies, so it’s no surprise there exists some cynicism about going overseas to “do good”. Recently in the press there have been several articles rightly criticising volunteering placements that increase the burden on communities or the environment. All too common are tales of projects taking work away from local people or of slapdash building work.

But not all volunteering projects are like this, so it’s vital to be able to pick out those which make a genuine difference. After all, if the work you do is worthwhile and long-lasting, it will not only be better for the host community but ultimately more rewarding for you.

There are movements promoting ethical volunteering within the sector, such as Fair Trade Volunteering, which launched earlier this year. But as an individual, how can you make sure your own goodwill translates into doing real good?

Here are our top 5 questions to ask when choosing a project:

1. Is there a local partner organisation?

A genuine collaboration between a local community, a local partner and a volunteer organisation is usually most effective, putting your skills as a volunteer to best use.

2. How much money goes to the project?

Your efforts are valuable but money is usually needed to buy project materials and sustain your efforts in the future. Find an organisation that can clearly explain the finances and that invests in their projects above and beyond your work.

3. What happens when I leave?

Find out how your efforts fit into a longer-term development plan and how the positive impact of your work will be sustained. Will other volunteers be taking over and how is the project supported year-round?

4. How are volunteers selected?

Organisations concerned about the impact their volunteers have will want speak to you prior to confirming your place, to ensure you are right for the project and that the experience will be right for you. Look for those who interview prospective volunteers or who have thorough application forms.

5. Will I receive any training?

Look for organisations who will give you detailed briefings on your project work, local cultures and expectations prior to departure.

Quest Overseas (01273 777206; www.questoverseas.com) is an East Sussex-based organisation that runs team projects and expeditions for gap year and university students in South America and Africa. They work with long-term projects overseas to fulfil development goals in partnership with communities. Established in 1996, they have raised over £1.5 million in charitable donations, every penny of which has gone directly to the projects themselves.

Quest Overseas case study

18 year-old Radha Measuria, now studying medicine at the University of Liverpool, spent a long time weighing up her options before volunteering. She decided to go to Kenya with UK organisation Quest Overseas and their partners, development charity Excellent. With 12 other volunteers, Radha worked alongside community groups for five weeks to build sand dams, a simple piece of engineering providing a clean, reliable water supply for thousands of people.

“The dams provide a sustainable solution to longer term issues surrounding drought and famine, said Radha. “These problems have been particularly evident throughout the work we’ve been doing, which makes it all the more worthwhile.”

On a well-designed project, it’s not just the volunteers who see the benefits of work: so too do the host community. 18 year-old community member Abednego Mwendwa said: "A sand dam here will change our environment. It will become more green and we will be able to use the water to grow vegetables."